Spinal Cord Injuries Flashcards
Complete
spinal cord is completely severed and function below the site is eliminated; loss of motor and sensory in the lowest sacral segments (S4/S5)
Incomplete
occur when the spinal cord is compressed or injured but the brain’s ability to send signals to the site are not completely removed; preservation of any sensory and/or motor function below the neurological level
Paraplegia
loss of impairment in motor and/or sensory function in the thoracis, lumbar or sacral segments. Impairment in the trunk, legs, and pelvis organs. Sparing the arms
Tetraplegia/ quadriplegia
loss of impairment in motor and/or sensory function in the cervical segments of the spinal cord resulting in functional impairment of the arms, legs, trunk, and pelvic organs
UMN
- located in the brain
- transmit motor signals to the LMN to activate muscles
- damage = weakness and paralysis and spasticity
- loss of coordinated and integrate control of reflexes below the site of injury;
LMN
- located in the brainstem that allows voluntary movement
- links to the UMN
- damage leads to flaccidity, muscle atrophy, and loss of swallowing
C1-C3
- functioning?
- ADLs? IADLs?
- Driving?
- type of w.c and pressure relief
- transfers
o Paralysis in arms, hands, trunk and legs
o Potential inability to breath independently, or control bowel movements or bladder
o Impaired or reduced ability to speech
o Tetraplegia
o Inability to drive a car
o Assistance with ADLs, eating, dressing, getting in and out of bed
o Power wheelchair with special controls = chin control, puff, mouth stick, power tilt for pressure relief
C3-C4
- functioning?
- ADLs? IADLs?
- Driving?
- type of w.c and pressure relief
- transfers
o head and neck control; shrug shoulders
o can breathe without assistance
o communication is normal
o Some or total paralysis of wrists, hands, trunk, and legs
o Little to no control of bowel or bladder
o Need for assistance for ADLs; adaptive equipment to eat; operate an adjustable bed
o power wheelchair can be used with head control, mouth stick, puff, chin control, power tilt for pressure relief
C5
- functioning?
- ADLs?
- Driving?
- type of w.c and pressure relief
- transfers
o Head and neck control, shrug shoulder, some shoulder control, can bend elbows and turn palms face up
o Independent with eating and grooming with set up from caregiver; assistance for bed mobility and transfers; can assist with UE dressing and washing
o May have strength to push a manual w/c for short distances; power w/c with hand controls for long distances; need a power tilt for pressure relief; can’t drive.
o Need assistance for bladder and bowel care
C6
- functioning?
- ADLs? IADLs?
- Driving?
- type of w.c and pressure relief
- transfers
o Has head, neck, shoulders, arms, and wrists.
o Can shrug shoulder, bend elbows, turn palms up and down and extend wrists
o With set up and equipment, can be independent with feeding, grooming, and UE dressing; need assistance for LE
o Can do sliding board transfers
o Light meal prep.
o Independent with power tilt for pressure relief.
o Can transfer in and out of bed with adaptive equipment
o Can use a manual w/c but power needed for uneven ground
o Can drive an adapted vehicle
o Little to no control of bowel or bladder but can manage independently with adapted equipment
C7-T1
- functioning?
- ADLs? IADLs?
- Driving?
- type of w.c and pressure relief
- transfers
o Has head, neck, shoulders, arms, and wrists.
o Can shrug shoulder, bend elbows and straighten elbows, turn palms up and down and extend wrists
o Added strength for C8-T1
o Independent in feeding, grooming, and UE dressing with equipment
o Little to no assistance for LE dressing and bathing with equipment
o Independent with pressure relief
o Independent with propelling manual w/c and level sliding board transfers. May need help with uphill propelling
o Can drive an adapted vehicle
o Some or total assistance for bowel management with adaptive equipment. Little to no assistance with bladder management
o Should be able to strengthen ermine have normal movement of shoulders
o Can do most ADLs independently but may need assistance for more difficult tasks
o May be able to drive an adaptive vehicle
o Little to no voluntary control of bowel or bladder but can managed independently with special equipment
T2-T12
- functioning?
- ADLs?
- Driving?
- type of w.c and pressure relief
- transfers
o Normal motor function in head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers
o Increased use of ribs and chest muscles or trunk control
o At T10- T12 level, more improvement in trunk control
o Independent in all ADLs including bowel and bladder management with adaptive equipment if necessary
o Independent with w/c push up for pressure relief
o Independent in bed mobility and transfers
o Independent with w/c propulsion
o Able to load and unload w/c from car
o Drive independently
L1-L5
- functioning?
- ADLs? IADLs?
- Driving?
- type of w.c and pressure relief
- transfers
o Some loss of function in the hips and knees
o Independent in bed mobility and transfers
o Independent with w/c propulsion
o Ambulation possible with braces and walking devices – depends on strength and movement of legs
S1-S5
o Depending on the level of injury, degrees of return to voluntary bladder, bowel, and sexual function
o Mobility increased to walking with little to no bracing or assistive devices
